City’s Sewage

Major drains originating from the upper reaches of the city are discharging the drainage water at different locations into the Port area before they finally discharge into the sea. These reaches of drains in the Port area are being maintained regularly by Visakhapatnam Port to ensure the free flow of water and to keep the clean environment of harbor waters. One 10 MLD sewage treatment plant is in operation to treat the sewage and sullage entering into port waters from the city. An annual expenditure of about 70.00 Lakhs is being incurred for maintenance of drains, geddas, and culverts, etc. The Municipality and Port have implemented certain long-term measures for flood/inundation control.

Sports and Cultural Complex

In line with the policies of the Government of India for the upliftment of Sports & Cultural developments and keeping in view the interest of the city public at large, a large Sports complex with various facilities for Sports & Cultural activities was developed by the Port in the early 1990s at a cost about ` 20.00 Crores. This Sports & Cultural Complex was completed in VPA’s own land of about 45 acres. The complex is provided with an Outdoor Stadium of 10,000 spectators capacity and an Indoor Stadium of 3000 spectators capacity, an auditorium of 1400 audience capacity for theatrical performances, and an Open Air Theatre with 3500 audience capacity including ancillary facilities. A Volleyball Academy, open courts for volleyball, basketball, etc., are also developed in open-air places. Training in batches to 60 people annually is being given by Sports Authority of India in Boxing, Volleyball, and Basketball games and a hostel facility is available for the trainers in the Sports Complex.

Connectivity Road

A Road running within the Portland was commonly being used historically over a long period by the Port Cargo Traffic and the City public between Port area up to N.H.-5. Due to the enormous increase in the traffic and due to the number of roads, rail, and river crossings, congestion of traffic has increased causing serious concern on safety, time, and inconvenience by the public and Port cargo traffic. Realizing the need to ease congestion of the traffic and to provide alternative route including improving the travel time, a Port Connectivity Road from Visakhapatnam Port to NH-5 with a total length of 12.5 KM comprising of 4.9 KM of Flyovers and Ramps at a total project cost of ` 114.00 Crores was developed and commissioned as a Joint Venture Project with National Highways Authority of India, wherein the contribution of the Port was ` 30.00 Crores. To benefit the common public, the two-wheelers and three-wheelers are permitted to use this facility free of toll fees. This Port Connectivity Road is serving the public, industries, defense, and many others enabling an unhindered smooth flow by relieving congestion on the other road and reducing the travel distance by about 6 KM saving them time and fuel, thus also helping the environment.

Measures adopted in tandem with Municipality

The entire Port area is being maintained by the Port itself duly taking care of these civic amenities. As such the Municipal Corporation in a true sense is not spending any amount out of the Property Tax collected from Visakhapatnam Port Authority for the aforesaid purpose. As per the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Act 1979, an amount of about ` 20 crores per annum is required to be paid by VPA towards Property Tax to the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation. Upon request made by the Port, the A.P. State Government issued an order that “51% of the taxes collected by the Visakhapatnam Municipality from the Visakhapatnam Port Authority be spent on works which will benefit the Port Authority area”. Accordingly, the following developmental and important schemes useful for the city and common public in the vicinity of the Port are taken up with mutual consent by both Visakhapatnam Port Authority and Municipal Corporation:

·        Construction and maintenance of the roads commonly used by both the city public and the Port traffic at the interface of the city.

·         Maintenance of drains discharging city drainage water into Port area and street lighting along these roads and flyovers.

·         Improvement of hospitals serving the poor people.

·        Development and improvement of school buildings, colleges, library, museum, etc.,